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FIRST PICS: The new era of V8 Supercars has begun with the first Nissan Altima V8 Supercar unveiled this morning in Melbourne.

NISSAN convert Rick Kelly forecast an explosive Clipsal 500 next year as he unveiled the new V8 Supercar which he believes is ready to muscle in on Australian motorsport's biggest rivalry.

Rick and brother Todd yesterday took the covers off the $1.5 million Nissan Altima, which will be on the start grid at next year's season-opener in Adelaide.

The red and black Supercar, powered by a production-based VK56DE engine, was seven months in the making and will now undergo strict testing to comply with the series' aerodynamic specifications.

nissan's v8 supercarSource:Supplied

It will end Nissan's 20-year exile from the series and, along with the inclusion of Mercedes, represents the biggest shake-up of the V8 Supercar era - made possible by its Car of the Future scheme.

The existing Kelly Racing Team will be rebranded Nissan Motorsport from January 1 and marks the first time that the brothers will have sat in anything other than a Holden in their Supercars careers.

Adelaide will have a front-row seat to the action at the Clipsal 500 from February 28.

Todd and Rick KellySource:Herald Sun

"It's very important from a category point of view for other brands like Nissan to bring more fans into the sport so they can turn up on a Saturday and Sunday and see the car that they drive," Rick said.

"It really is re-energising the rivalry back in V8 Supercars between Ford and Holden that's probably dropped off a little bit in the last couple of years.

"Clipsal 500 is always a massive event but, I tell you what, they've got the biggest event of the year now."

nissan's v8 supercarSource:Supplied

Todd praised his 70-person team, which invested more than 23,000 hours into designing and building the car.

Australian motorsport legend Mark Skaife said the Car of the Future scheme was the biggest thing to ever happen to V8 Supercars. Skaife believes more manufacturers will follow Nissan and Mercedes into the series.